Ignition device for explosive-engines.



A. F. CLARKE. IGNITION DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1906.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

A. P. CLARKE. IGNITION DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1906.

Patented N 0v. 9, 1909. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A. F. CLARKE. IGNITION DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLIOATIOR YILED SEPT. 27, 1906.

939,805. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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mamas.- 1220012 02? ARTHUR F. CLARKE, F BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITION DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application filed. September 27, 1906. Serial No. 336,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. CLARKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Devices for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to ignition devices for explosive engines, and its primary object is to provide simple and effective mechanism for controlling the electric contacts which create the spark within the cylinder head of the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for operating the igniting devices of two cylinders whereby the two sparking devices are timed for alternate action and operated by a single set of actuating connections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit-breaker in the electric circuit of the sparker contacts whereby the circuit is broken at all times except when it is required to produce the spark, and hence I avoid all waste of current and materially prolong the life of the battery employed.

The invention also includes various novel features of construction, and combinations of parts which will be specifically described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of an ignition device constructed in accordance with the invention, a fragmentary outline of one of the cylinder heads being shown, Fig. 2 ma similar view which should be read in connection with Fig. 1, showing the parts of the clevice which are broken away in Fig. 1, and the outline of the other cylinder head, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the actuating lever of the mechanism and its operating eccentric, Fig. at is a detail elevation of one of the pivoted dogs for engaging the spring-pressed pivoted arms controlling the movement of the rocking electrodes, Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing the bolt connection between the rocking arm and the reciprocating rod, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the electrical connections.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 designates the head of one of the cylinders provided with a sparker opening to receive a plate 2 carrying the ignition devices. This plate is secured by bolts 3, and pivo'tally secured to the outer face thereof, is a link 1-, the lower end of which is pivotally secured as by bolt 40 to a horizontally disposed rod 5. The outer end of this rod 5 is connected to the upper end of a rocker arm 6 fixed upon the forward end of an oscillating shaft T, supported adjacent to the front end of the cylinder by a bracket 8, bolted to the side of the cylinder, and pro vided with two bearings 9 and 10 through which the shaft 7 extends. The rod 5 and the rocker arm 6 are connected by a bolt 11 shown in detail in Fig. 5 and having a bored head 12 to receive the end of the rod 5, the latter being threaded to receive opposing jam-nuts 13. The bolt extends through a bearing 14 formed at the upper end of the arm 6 (Fig. 5) and receives a securing nut 15.

The oscillating shaft 7 extends along the side of the cylinder being supported by the bracket bearings 9 and 10 at its forward end as stated, and at its rear end by a bracket bearing 16 secured to the supporting frame of the cylinder adjacent to its rear end.

Projecting laterally from the shaft 7 at its rear end and secured thereto by set screws is an arm 17 formed with a slotted extension 18 to receive a guide-rod 19 supported upon a bracket 20 bolted to the frame, and having a coil-spring 21 surrounding it above the arm 17, said spring being confined by a washer 22, and a nut- 23 fitting the upper threaded end of the guide-rod.

The numeral 24 designates a bent lever fulcrumed upon the frame by means of a stud. 25 and having its upwardly inclined rear end 26 forked to receive a roller 27, in position to be struck by an eccentric 28 mounted upon the shaft of the engine parallel to the governor pulley 29. The forward end 30 of the forked lever 24: is also bifurcated to receive a roller 31 adapted to rest against the under side of the arm 17, the latter being held against the roller by the spring 21.

Pivotally mounted within and extending through the cylinder head is a bolt 36 to the inner end of which is secured one end of an arm 32, the opposite end of which carries a contact 33 adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact 3 1 suitably secured on the inner side of the cylinder head. The outer end of the bolt 36 is provided with an arm I 38. Intermediate the pivot bolt of link 4 and bolt 36 is located a bolt or support 35 on which is pivotally secured a lever 37 beveled atits lower end to adapt it to engage a notch 39 in a tripping dog 400 (shown in detail in Fig. 4) pivoted upon the bolt 40 at the lower end of the link 4, and having a depending lug 41 and a projecting tooth 42. A coil spring 43 is secured between this lug 41 and a corresponding lug 44 depending from a coupling sleeve 45. This sleeve is internally threaded, to receive the threaded end of a rod 46 connecting the sleeve.45, with a similar sleeve 47, said two sleeves and 47 being oppositely disposed.

A coil spring 48 is interposed between the lever 37 and a block 49 projecting from the plate 2, and a coil spring 50 is interposed between the arm 38, and a block 51 projecting from the plate 2. The normal pressure of the spring 48 is substantially the same or slightly less than the pressure of the spring 50 in order that the arm 32, when the lever 37 is at rest will be in position to provide an electrical contact between the electrodes 33 and 34, the lever 37, with the parts in this position, being supported against the pressure of its spring by the arm 38. The block 49 is formed with a threaded bore to receive an adjustable screw 52, one end of which is located in the path of movement of the tooth 42 and serves, by rocking the trip dog 400 on its pivot, to release the engagement of the lever 37 and notch 39. When said lever 37 is released the spring 48 forces it against the arm 38, which it strikes with a hammer blow, and suddenly moving said arm to the right, thereby rocking the arm 32 within the cylinder head, the arms 32 and 38 with the bolt 36 forming an equivalent of a bell crank lever, the bolt 36 being the pivot point, said parts forming, with the contact point or electrode 33, a rocking electrode. The rocking motion of the arm 32 caused by the blow delivered by the lever 37, provides a sudden separation of the electrodes 33 and 34, thereby producing a disruption of the circuit with the resultant effect of producing a spark of high calorific power. After the blow has been struck the circuit is again closed by the pressure of the spring 50 moving the arm 38 and the lever 37 to their normal positions.

The lever 37 and arm 38 and the tripping dog 400 and parts associated therewith are duplicated for the cylinder head 1*, in Fig. 2, but as shown in said figure, these devices for moving the contact 33 are disposed reversely to the disposition of the same parts in Fig. 1, in the cylinder head 1. Thus it will be seen that one set of spark devices are operating in one cylinder While the set in the other cylinder is at rest, the result being to explode a charge in each cylinder alternately.

It will be understood that the usual electric connections and insulations are provided for the electrodes, but these connections will be varied in my improved mechanism by reason of the employment of a circuit breaker which will now be described.

Upon the rod 46 is mounted a split sleeve adapted to be clamped upon the rod by a suitable bolt, and having an upwardly projecting arm 54. A supporting bar 55 of nonconducting material is secured between the two cylinder heads, and a spring 56 of 'bail form is centrally secured to the bar 55, by a screw 56 said screw serving as a binding post for an electrical conductor 57. To each of the free ends of the curved spring 56 is secured a tip 57 of fiber or like insulating material by means of screws 58, said screws being adapted to make electrical contact with curved brass springs 59 secured to the insulating support 55 by bolts 60 serving as bindmg .posts 'for conductors 61 and 62, leading respectively to the stationary contact points in the two cylinders and repre- 1 senting one pole of the battery current. V

The conductor 57 leads to the battery and the return wire of the battery is connected to the metallic plate 2. The arm 54 of the split sleeve 53 forces one or the other of the contact screws 58 into electrical connection with the springs 59, to complete a circuit through one or the other set of the contact points in the cylinders. It will be clear from the description and illustration that the circuit is completed alternately through the contacts of each .cylinder, and further that the battery circuit will be open while thearm 54 is not engaging either of the fiber tips, or while said arm 54 is moving from one tip to the other. Thus the electric circuit is complete only during the instant when it is desired to produce the spark in one or the other of the cylinders, and during the appreciable intervals between explosions, no current is flowing and the life of the battery is thereby prolonged.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine, said electrodes being normally in position for electrical contact, and means on the outer side of the cylinder head and operated by the shaft of the engine for suddenly moving the rocking electrode to break the contact, said means cushioning the return movement of the rocking electrode to its normal position.

2. In an ignition device for explosive engines,a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine, said electrodes being normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode being operable from without the cylinder head, means normally positioned by said rocking electrode and movable to a point out of contact therewith for suddenly moving the rocking electrode to break the contact, the movement of said means in one direction taking place at a predetermined point in the movement of the shaft of the engine, said means cushioning the return movement of the rocking electrode to its normal position.

3. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine, said electrodes being normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode being operable from without the cylinder head, and a pivotally mounted lever normally positioned by said rocking electrode and movable to a point out of contact therewith for suddenly moving the rocking electrode to break the contact, the movement of said lever in one direction taking place at a predetermined point in the movement of the shaft of the engine, means cooperating with said lever being provided for cushioning the return movement of said lever.

4. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine, said electrodes being normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode being operable from without the cylinder head, a pivotally mounted lever positioned by said rocking electrode and movable to a point out of contact therewith for suddenly moving the rocking electrode to break the contact, means actuated by the shaft of the engine for moving said lever in one direction, and independent means for returning said lever to impart a hammer blow to the electrode, said latter means cushioning the return movement of the rocking electrode to its normal position.

5. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine, said electrodes being normally in position for electrical contact said rocking electrode being operable from without the cylinder head, a pivotally mounted lever normally positioned by said rocking electrode and movable to a point out of contact therewith for suddenly moving the rocking electrode to break the contact, means actuated by the shaft of the engine for moving said lever in one direction, the movement of said lever being of predetermined length and without eiiecting the normal position of the rocking electrode, said means being automatically released when said movement has been completed, and means for moving the lever in the opposite direction to impart a hammer blow to the electrode when the lever is released, said latter means cushioning the return movement of the rocking electrode to its normal position.

6. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine and normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode having an actuating arm located on the outer side of the cylinder, a spring operating upon said arm for placing a contact-closing pressure thereon, a pivoted lever normally in contact with and positioned by said arm, means operated by the shaft of the engine for moving said lever out of contact with said arm, and independent means for returning said lever in a direction to strike said arm a sudden blow to break the contact between the electrodes, said independent means and the actuating arm being normally under opposed pressure.

7. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine and normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode having an actuating arm located on the outer side of the cylinder, a spring operating upon said arm for placing a contact-closing pressure thereon, a pivoted lever adjacent to and normally in contact with and positioned by said arm, means operated by the shaft of the engine for moving said lever out of contact with said arm, and independent means for returning said lever in a direction to strike said arm a sudden blow to break the contact between the electrodes, said independent means and the actuating arm being normally under opposed pressure.

8. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine and normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode having an actuating arm located on the outer side of the cylinder, a spring operating upon said arm for placing a contact-closing pressure thereon, a pivoted lever normally in contact with and positioned by said arm, a reciprocating rod operated by the shaft of the engine, means carried by said rod for moving said lever in one direction, and independentmeans for returning said lever in a direction to strike said arm a sudden blow to break the contact between the electrodes, said independent means and the actuating arm being normally under opposed pressure.

9. In an ignition device for explosive engines, a stationary and a rocking electrode located within the cylinder of the engine and normally in position for electrical contact, said rocking electrode having an actuating arm located on the outer side of the cylinder head, a spring operating upon said arm for placing a contact-closing pressure thereon, a pivoted lever normally in contact with and positioned by said arm, a reciprocating rod operated by the shaft of the engine, means carried on said rod for moving said lever in one direction, tripping desaid arm a sudden blow to break the contact between the electrodes, said independent means and the actuating arm being normally under opposed pressure.

10. In an ignition device for explosive engines, the combination with a stationary electrode within the cylinder of the engine, of a rocking electrode also within the cylinder, a support for said electrodes, a link mounted on said support, a rod pivotallysecured to said link, a. shaft, connections between said rod and shaft for reciprocating the rod, means for oscillating said shaft from the main shaft of the engine, and means for imparting a sudden blow to the rocking electrode, said means extending into the path of movement of said rod.

11. In an ignition device for explosive engines, the combination with a. stationary electrode within the cylinder of the engine, of a rocking electrode also within the cylinder, a support for said rocking electrode, a link connected to said support, a rod pivotally secured to said link, a rocker arm pivotally secured to said rod, an oscillating shaft upon which the rocket arm is mounted, a spring pressed arm projecting from said oscillating shaft, a rocking lever for moving said arm from the engine shaft, and means for imparting a sudden blow to the rocking electrode, said means extending into the path of movement of said rod.

12. In an explosive engine, a plurality of cylinders each having a stationary and a rocking electrode normally in position for electrical contact, independent normallybroken electrical connections for the electrodes of each of said cylinders, said connections including a device having opposing contacts arranged in pairs and normally open, the pairs being spaced one from another, and means located in a. single plane and common to each of the cylinders and op erated by the shaft of the engine for moving the rocking electrodes one at a time to suddenly break the contact of the electrodes in a predetermined cylinder, said means having an arm extending into and movable within the space between the pairs of contacts, the movement of said means in either direction causing said arm to close the pair of contacts lying in the path of movement of the arm to complete the circuit Within a predetermined cylinder.

13. In an explosive engine, a plurality of cylinders each having a stationary and a rocking electrode normally in position for electrical contact, independent normallybroken electrical connections for the electrodes of each of said cylinders, said connections including a device having opposing contacts arranged in pairs and normally open, the pairs being spaced one from another, and means located in a single plane and common to each of the cylinders and operated by the shaft of the engine for alternately moving the rocking electrodes one at a time to suddenly break the contact of the electrodes in a predetermined cylinder, the other rocking electrode being free from movement during the contact-breaking operation, said means having an arm extending into and movable within the space between the pairs of contacts, the movement of said means causing said .arm to alternately close the pairs of contacts to complete the circuit within a predetermined cylinder.

14. In an ignition device for an explosive engine, the combination with two cylinders, of a stationary electrode within each of said cylinders, a rocking electrode also within each of said cylinders, supports for said rocking electrodes, and connections intermediate said supports and the engine shaft for moving the rocking electrodes alternately, said connections comprising links mounted on said supports, horizontally disposed rods connected to said links, a rocker arm pivotally secured to one of said rods, an oscillating shaft upon which the rocker arm is mounted, and means for oscillating said shaft from the shaft of the engine.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR F. CLARKE,

lVitnesses F. O. MoCLnARY, MAx I-I. SRoLovrrz. 

